Grip holder for garment hangers



April 23, 1963 M. GLOWKA 3,086,687

GRIP HOLDER FOR GARMENT HANGERS Filed June 5, 1961 3 Sheets-She'et 1INVENTOR. MART! N GLOWKA A TTOP/VW April 23, 1963 M. GLOWKA 3,086,687

GRIP HOLDER FOR GARMENT HANGERS Filed June 5, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

MARTIN GLOWKA BY April 23, 1963 GLOWKA 3,086,687

GRIP HOLDER FOR GARMENT HANGERS Filed June 5, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR. MARTIN GLOWKA A 'Z'TURNE Y ilnited States 3,086,687 GRIPHOLDER FOR GARMENT HANGERS Martin Glowka, 7 St. Marks Place, New York,N.Y. Filed June 5, 1961, Ser. No. 114,705 4 Claims. (Cl. 22391) Thisinvention relates to the art of garment hangers and more particularlyconcerns a spring grip means for holding trousers or other garments on acrossbar of a hanger.

The invention is especially applicable to hangers of the type havingcrossbars between angularly disposed arms. The hangers may be of metal,plastic or wood.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a hanger havingangularly disposed arms, and a crossbar with a spring grip arm forholding a garment on the crossbar, and with means provided for engagingand locking the spring arm out of the way when not in use.

A further object is to provide a hanger of the character describedwherein one of the angularly disposed arms is formed with recesses or aslot to engage the end of the spring arm.

Another object is to provide a garment hanger wherein the angularlydisposed arms, crossbar, and spring arm are all integrally formed of asingle length of wire.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a hanger embodying the inventionwith the spring arm in one position engaging on the crossbar.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional views taken on line 2-2 and 33 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 showing the springarm in extended position detached from the crossbar and locked on anangular arm of the hanger.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are side elevational views of a hanger embodying anothermodified form of the invention with garment gripping spring arm shown intwo different positions, parts being broken away.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a hanger embodying yetanother modified form of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of another hanger embodying a stillfurther modified form of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 16-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale and partly insection of the upper part of the hanger of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a hanger embodying yet anothermodified form of the invention, showing the spring in dot-dash lines ingripping position,

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of FIG.12.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 1414 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 1515 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is a detail view showing the bracket and connection between thearm and spring, showing the spring in gripping position in dot-dashlines when in the second level on the spring head.

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of a hanger embodying a still furthermodified form of the invention, showing the spring in gripping positionin dot-dash lines.

3,986,687 Patented Apr. 23, 1953 In FIGS. 15 is shown a wood, metal orplastic hanger 10 having angularly disposed arms 11 and 12 arranged asan inverted V-shaped structure. A hook 14 is secured at the apex of thestructure. A cylindrical crossbar 16 extends across the free ends of thearms 11, 12. To the extent described the hanger is largely conventional.Integral with arm 11 or attached thereto by nails 13 or the like is araised projection 18 with beveled edge 19. Anchored in this projection18 is a staple 22'} whose bight is engaged around the loop or eye 22 ofa coil spring 24. The Spring has a short finger 25 hearing on the inneror underside of arm 11. The spring has a long arm 26 whose outer end issecured by welding 28 or the like to one side of a channel-shaped springmember 39. The member 30 can be snapped over the crossbar as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 and will grip any garment on the crossbar to preventslippage of the garment ofi of the crossbar.

The free end of arm 11 is formed with recesses 32, 34 on opposite sidesas shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5. When the member 31} is disengaged fromthe crossbar, it can be engaged on the free end of arm 11 which willthen detachably hold the member 30'. The spring arm 26 will extend closeto arm 11. The lateral mounting of the spring 24 on projection 18insures that arm 26 clears crossbar 16 and member 39 fits underneath arm11 out of the way of any garment which might be placed on arms 11, 12 ofthe hanger. The spring grip member 30 can easily be snapped 011 of arm11 to engage on the crossbar.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 is shown another form of the invention in which partsof hanger 10a corresponding to those of hanger 10 are identicallynumbered. Arm 26 of the spring 24 is formed with a doubly bent hook 27which engages over the crossbar 1-6 as shown in FIG. 6. Arm 11 is formedat its free end with a groove or slot 23 in which fits the free end 29of the book 27. When the end of hte hook 27 is engaged in slot 28 asshown in FIG. 7, the spring arm 26 is straight and extends within agroove 11a in the arm 11' out of the way of any garment which might beplaced on the hanger, either on arms 11, 12 or on the crossbar 16.

In FIG. 8, the structure of the hanger 10b is the same as that of hanger10a except that a rubber or plastic tubing 34 is placed on the straightportion of the spring arm 26'. This is desirable since the portion ofarm 26' near hook 27 may itself serve as a garment gripping element inaddition to the hook. The rubber tubing serves as a friction grippingmember on the arm 26.

In FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 the body of the hanger 10c is made entirely of asingle piece of wire. The garment gripping spring arm 26" is formed atone end of the wire and hook 14' is formed at the other end of the wire.Around the shank 17 of the hook are twisted several coils 21 of the Wireto engage both the upper end of the spring arm 26" and the apical endsof arms 11" and 12". Crossbar 16" is integral with the lower ends ofarms 11" and 12". A rubber tube 23 covers the crossbar 16" forsubstantially its length. The free end of arm 26" is formed with thedoubly bent hook 2 This hook will engage on the tube 23 of the crossbarin one position shown in solid lines in FIG. 9, or will engage on thearm 11" as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 9, being snapped through a neckportion 35 of a loop 37 formed in arm 11".

Referring now to the modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 12 to16, inclusive, wherein the body of the hanger 10x is similar to the bodyof the hanger 10c in FIG. 9 including side ar-ms 11x and 12x, crosspiece 16x and hook 14x. The cross piece is protected by a cover 23x ofrubber or the like U-shaped in cross-section and formed by folding thematerial of the cover upon itself as shown in FIG. 14. Hanger lllx isalso provided with a modified form of mounting for the spring arm 26x.

This mounting includes an inwardly directed protuberance 40 formed bybending the material of the arm 11x adjacent the apex end of the body. Abeating member 4-2 U- shaped in cross section has one end of its bight44 suitably fastened to the arm 11x at one end of the bend, the otherend being unattached to permit the bend to yield slightly. The sidewalls 46 of the bearing member are closely spaced and span the arm 11xand project inwardly thereof. One end of the spring ar-m 26x ispivotally connected to the bearing member 42. This connection comprisesa substantially circular flat block forming a head 48. The block isformed along its periphery with two adjacent level peripheral edgeportions 50 and 52. The head is disposed between the side walls and ispivotally secured therein by a pivot pin 54 journalled in the sidewalls.

A keeper device 56 having an elongated U-shaped body with closely spacedside Walls 58 is mounted on the hanger arm 11x adjacent its joinder withthe cross bar 16x. The keeper device removably receives the hooked end27.x of the spring arm 26x and holds the same out of the way when not inuse. The free edges of the side walls are curled for half their lengthas indicated at 60. to facilitate entrance of the hooked end into thekeeper.

In use, when the spring arm 26x is not being used to hold a garment, itis swung out of the way to the position shown in full lines in FIG. 12at which time the level portion 50 of the head 48 is contacting the bend40 of the arm 11x and exerting no pressure thereon. By grasping the arm26x it can be swung leftward as viewed in FIG. 12 to force the hookedend 27x of the arm 26x over a garment on the cover 23x on the crossbar16x as shown in dot-dash lines in FIGS. 12 and 16. During thisoperation, the bend 40 yields due to the inherent flexibility of thematerial of the wire arm 11x and the head 48 is turned carrying itslevel portion 52 into pressing engagement with the bend 40.

The modified form of hanger xx shown in FIG. 17 differs from the form ofhanger 10x of FIGS. 12 to 16, inclusive, in the mounting of the springarm 26xx. In this form, spring arm 26xx at one end is formed with acircular loop or eyelet 64 pivotally connected to a pivot pin 66 securedby and between the side walls of the bearing member 42xx. Intermediateits ends, the spring arm 26xx is formed with an inwardly extendingprotuberance 68 formed by bending the material thereof. A compressionspring 70 has one end fastened to a perforated ear 72 on a sleeve 74secured around the arm llxx, its other end being hooked over andpressing against the protuberance 68 on the arm 26xx for urging said armoutwardly toward the hanger arm llxx. The arm 26xx is shown ininoperative position in full lines. In order to use the arm 26xx, it isgrasped by the fingers ofthe userand pulled away from the bearing member56xx against the action of spring 70 and swung leftward as viewed inFIG. 17 forcing its hooked end 2720: onto a garment on the cover 23xx onthe crossbar 16xx. When the arm is unhooked, the spring 70 snaps the armback to inoperative position as shown in FIG. 17.

In all other respects, the form of hanger 10xx is similar to the form ofhanger 102: and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similarparts.

In all forms of the invention, the spring gripping arm is provided withmeans for holding it out of the way of any garment placed on the hanger.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent 1. A hanger for garmentscomprising an inverted V- shaped body constituted by two opposedslanting side bars and a crossbar extending across the space between theends of the slanting bars and integral therewith, a hook protruding fromthe apex end of the body, one slanting bar having a bent portionadjacent the apex end of the body, a U-shaped bearing member supportedon said one slanting bar over said bent portion, the side arms of thebearing member extending inwardly of the bent portion, a pivot pinsupported across the space between the side arms inwardly of the bentportion, an elongated spring arm having one end pivotally connected tosaid pin, a hook on the free end of the spring arm, said spring arm andhook adapted to be swung into pressing engagement with a garment on thecrossbar and a keeper device on said one slanting bar adjacent itsjuncture with the crossbar for holding the spring arm with its hook ininoperative position.

2. A hanger for garments as defined in claim 1 wherein the pivotalconnection between the end of the spring arm I and the pin includes asubstantially circular flat head on said one end of the spring arm, theperipheral edge. thereof in engagement with the bent portion of said oneslan ing bar, said head having adjacent levels along its periphery forengaging against the bent portion when the spring arm is in inoperativeposition and for pressing against the bent portion when the spring armis in operative position.

3. A hanger for garments as defined in claim 1 wherein the keeper deviceincludes a U-shaped body with the side arms thereof in closely spacedrelation, the free edges of the side walls curled for a portion of theirlength to facilitate entrance of the spring arm into the keeper andwherein the crossbar has a U-shaped cover thereover.

4. A hanger for garments as defined in claim 1 wherein the pivotalconnection between the end of the spring arm and the pin includes asubstantially circular fiat head on said one end of the spring arm, theperipheral edge thereof in engagement with the bent portion of said oneslanting bar, said head having adjacent levels along its periphery forengaging against the bent portion when the spring arm is in inoperativeposition and for pressing against the bent portion when the spring armis in operative position, and wherein the keeper device includes anH-sha-ped body with the side arms thereof in closely spaced relation,the free edges of the side walls curled for a portion of their length tofacilitate entrance of the spring arm into the keeper device and whereinthe crossbar has a U-shaped cover thereover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,886,224 Rourne May 12, 1959 2,963,207 Glowka Dec. 6, 1960 2,984,394Chanhin May 16, 1961

1. A HANGER FOR GARMENTS COMPRISING AN INVERTED VSHAPED BODY CONSTITUTEDBY TWO OPPOSED SLANTING SIDE BARS AND A CROSSBAR EXTENDING ACROSS THESPACE BETWEEN THE ENDS OF THE SLANTING BARS AND INTEGRAL THEREWITH, AHOOK PROTRUDING FROM THE APEX END OF THE BODY, ONE SLANTING BAR HAVING ABENT PORTION ADJACENT THE APEX END OF THE BODY, A U-SHAPED BEARINGMEMBER SUPPORTED ON SAID ONE SLANTING BAR OVER SAID BENT PORTION, THESIDE ARMS OF THE BEARING MEMBERS EXTENDING INWARDLY OF THE BENT PORTION,A PIVOT PIN SUPPORTED ACROSS THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SIDE ARMS INWARDLY OFTHE BENT PORTION, AN ELONGATED SPRING ARM HAVING ONE END PIVOTALLYCONNECTED TO SAID PIN, A HOOK ON THE FREE END OF THE SPRING ARM, SAIDSPRING ARM AND HOOK ADAPTED TO BE SWUNG INTO PRESSING ENGAGEMENT WITH AGARMENT ON THE CROSSBAR AND A KEEPER DEVICE ON SAID ONE SLANTING BARADJACENT ITS JUNCTURE WITH THE CROSSBAR FOR HOLDING THE SPRING ARM WITHITS HOOK IN INOPERATIVE POSITION.